Drink caddy

ABSTRACT

A portable holding device embodying an open top wire-formed basket coupled to a rigid hanger assembly having detachable connection with the lifeline of a ship or boat to provide substantially universal pivotal support of the basket such that a drinking vessel positioned in the basket is maintained in a generally upright attitude regardless of ship movements.

United States Patent [191 Ahmer DRINK CADDY [76] Inventor: Carl W. Ahmer, 1321 Hillside Rd.,

Northbrook, 111.

22 Filed: May 26,1972

21 Appl. No; 257,306

[52] U.S.Cl. 248/3ll,2ll/7l [51] A47c 7/70 [58] Field of Search 248/31 1, 304, 305,

[56] 5 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,694 6/1951 Sagen 248/318 X 2,409,538 10/1946 Brill et a1... 24/236 X 3,587,915 6/1971 Theobald... 220/97 C 2,451,923 10/1948 Cox et a1. ..248/3ll X [451 Sept. 25, 1973 3,269,683 8/1966 Shinaver 248/311 X 2,346,276 4/1944 Reittinger.... 248/215 2,893,675 7/1959 Smith et al... 248/311 X 3,194,403 7/1965 Van Horn 248/311 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 319,304 11/1902 France 248/31 1 a Primary Examiner-.l. Franklin Foss At!0rneyJames'A. Davis et a1.

' [57 1 ABSTRACT A portable holding device embodying an open top wire-formed basket coupled to a rigid hanger assembly having detachable connection with the lifeline of a ship or boat to provide substantially universal pivotal support of the basket such that a drinking vessel positioned in the basket is maintained in a generally upright attitude regardless of ship movements.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP25I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 DRINK CADDY This invention relates generally to an improved device for holding drinks on board ship in particular. The problem of safely stowing liquid-filled drinking vessels in a readily accessible location aboard a ship or small craft such that liquids do not spill or fall on the deck or overboard has been confronted for some time. Various efforts have been made to overcome this problem, such as brackets or holders rigidly affixed to the superstructure of the ship and in which a drink container may be placed. However, such an arrangement is generally'unsatisfactory since the bracket, being rigidly affixed to the vessel, moves responsively with all ship movements. Thus, a drinking cup, for example, filled with liquid and placed in such a bracket is subjected to a wide variety of gyrations and movements, making liquid storage therein highly hazardous at best. More recently, devices have been innovated for this purpose in which a holder acceptable of a drinking vessel is mounted on biaxial gimbals to accommodate normal roll and pitch of the ship to which it is attached. Such gimbalmounted devices are more in keeping with the timehonored system of suspending shipboard mounted compasses, lamps and the like to maintain the same substantially level in reaction to pitch and roll. Nevertheless, it is well recognized by those familiar with the sea that biaxial gimbal mounting is not totally foolproof since more erratic movements and radical gyrations of a ship, particularly at or near themovement limits of the biaxial gimbal system, can and do result in rather violent departures of the gimbal supported item from a consistent horizontal attitude. As a consequence, liquid drinks and the like suspended in gimbal mounted brackets often spill and splash out of the drinking vessel or, alternatively, are satisfactorily stored only so long as the level of the liquid therein is maintained low enough to avoid spill-out.

In recognition of the above-outlined difiiculties, the.

hereinafter to be described means of this invention provides a new, improved and simplified portable drink caddy, whereby liquid-containing cans, cups, bottles and other vessels may be safely stored on board ship; the same being removably suspended from the lifelines or other flexible support means with generally universally pivotal or swivel connection so that, regardless of ships movement, the caddy device gravitationally suspends the drink in a generally upright attitude. Asa consequence, liquid containing vessels held in a drink caddy of this invention are easily accessible to the user and may be stored therein with improved assurance against spillage and loss.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an improved device for holding open-top liquidcontaining vessels on board a ship or the like.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved shipboard device for holding drinks and the like which is portable and may be readily mounted and demounted on a lifeline or similar flexible support system.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved device as aforesaid which is easily stored in a compact, nested condition with a plurality of like devices.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved drink caddy or device for holding liquidcontaining cups, cans, bottles and the like on board ship and which is operationally reactive to the various movements of a ship in a manner to maintain the liquidcontaining vessel in a generally upright condition.

\ Having thus described this invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those familiar with the art from the following detailed description of a preferred and modified embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings, in

which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a ship having a life rail system to show the manner of mounting the improved drink-holding device of this invention thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a first form of holding device according to this invention, illustrating its mounted condition with a lifeline or like flexible suspension;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2, taken substantially from vantage line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4'is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, similar to FIG. 4, illustrating several devices according to FIGS. 2-4 internested for storage purposes;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a second form of holding device according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of swivel hook means employed with the holding device of FIGS. 6-8.

Turning now to the details of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, reference is first made toFIG. l which displays a top side portion of a sailboat or like water-borne craft (indicated generally at 20) equipped with a life guard. railing assembly 21 along the periphery of its deck 22. As shown, assembly 21 includes plural upright stanchions 23 located at spaced intervals for supporting a flexible cable or lifeline 24 trained between the upper ends thereof. One or more drink-holding devices of this invention, indicated generally by numeral 25, are detachably mounted along the lifeline 24 to depend downwardly therefrom for the purpose of providing convenient means for storing drink-containing vessels, such as a soft'drink can, indicated generally at 26 in FIG. 3.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holding device 25, according to this invention, comprises an open-top basket portion 30 having hanger means 31 extending upwardly from one side thereof. The hanger means 31 includes a latch means 32 for removably connecting the holding device to the lifeline or cable 24 with desired universal swivel connection. I

The basket portion 30 preferably is a wire-formed construction having an open top and semi-open sides and bottom which provide a socket acceptable of a drinking vessel such as the soft drink can 26. The basket portion includes an annular upper rim member 35 made of galvanized, stainless steel or bronze rod or wire for corrosion-resistant purposes. The annular rim member 35 (see FIG. 4) defines the upper perimeter of the basket portion 30 and is fixed, as by welding, brazing, or silver-soldering, to the upper ends of four upright arm members 36, 37, 38, 39, each comprising a wire or metal rod having a finger portion 40 at its upper end adapted to overlie the upper side of the rim member 35 in assembly; turning outwardly from the central axis of the basket portion 30.

The two arm members 36 and 37 for convenience of manufacture are commonly interjoined by a crossconnecting leg 41 having a central curvilinear bail portion 42 (see FIG. 4); the arm members 36, 37 and leg 41 comprising a substantially U-shaped member of unitary construction. It is to be noted from FIG. 2 in particular that the arms 36 and 37 are disposed to one side of a central diameter of the rim member 35 and are 011- set rearwardly from the central bail portion 42 due to the angular formation of the leg 41.

The other two arm members 38 and 39 are also symmetrically located on opposite sides of a central diameter for the rim member 35 (see FIGS. 2 and 4), in generally upright position, paralleling the arm members 36 and 37. As with arm members 36 and 37, the upper end finger portions 40 thereof are brazed, welded, soldered or otherwise rigidly affixed to the upper side of the rim member 35 in assembly. Extending between the lower end of the arm members 38 and 39 and the central bail portion 42 are a pair of dog leg portions 43,43 divergently related with respect to one another and merging into contacting engagement substantially over the bail portion 42 wherefrom the same extend rearwardly in side-by-side parallel relationship to form a twin base leg portion 44 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) which merges at its rearward reaches into the lower end of an upwardly extending twin arm member 45. It is preferred that the individual rod members making up the twin leg portion 44 and the twin arm member 45 be rigidly interjoined in side-by-side contacting relationship as by welding or brazing connection which best may be accomplished substantially at or over the bail portion 42. It will also be appreciated that the twin arm member 45 extends vertically upwardly in parallel relationship to the other arm members 36-39, defining with the latter the open sides of the basket portion 30.

With particular reference to F IG. 3 of the drawings, it will be recognized that the upper end of the twin arm member 45 is bent outwardly and rearwardly over the upper side of the annular rim member 35 at portion 46, the latter of which merges into the lower end of the upwardly extending hanger means 31. Portion 46 preferably is fixed to the upper side of the rim member 35 in the same manner employed for fixing the outer end or finger portions 40 thereto. Typically, the angular spread between adjacent arm members 36-39 may be in the order of 72.

As shown best in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, hanger means 31 comprises an upwardly reaching extension of the twin arm member 45 and as such is formed by two parallel side-by-side disposed rigid wires or rods 47,48 which project vertically upwardly from the outer end of portion 46. The upper ends of the two rods 47 and 48 are curvilinearly formed in semicircular fashion to merge with a forwardly extending linear reach arm portion 50 which extends forwardly over the center of the basket portion 30. Arm portion 50 in turn terminates in a hook portion 51 having an open bottom or lower side adapted to loosely receive the lifeline or other flexible cable suspension 24 via its open throat.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the outer ends of the two rods 47 and 48 preferably are integrally interjoined by a reentrant bend 52 at the outermost end of the hook portion 51. Thus the hook portion, the hanger means 31, the upright members 47 and 48, the portion 46, the twin arm member 45, the twin leg portion 44 and the angularly related dog leg portions 43,43 as well as the upright arm members 38 and 39 are all part of a single length of rod or wire; the free ends of which comprise the outwardly turned finger portions 40,40 of the arm members 38 and 39. While such integral formation is preferable, it is fully contemplated that such wire or rod elements making up the hanger means and arm members 38 and 39 may be separate and rigidly interconnected at final assembly to provide an equivalent to the particular integral structure illustrated.

It is important to note that the hook portion 51 which accommodates the lifeline 24 is located substantially over the center of the basket portion 30 and is generally aligned slightly behind the bail portion 42 to promote balance and stability for the loaded holder device in operation.

In order to afi'irmatively lock or latch the hanger device to the lifeline 24, the latch means 32 is provided. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, such comprises a length of flat spring metal strapping having a planar lower base end portion 55 affixed to the inside face of the twin rods 47, 48, near the junction of the latter with portion 46, as by welding, brazing or silversoldering. The main body 56 of the latch means 32 extends angularly outwardly from the base portion 55 toward the hook portion 51. The upper end of body 56 is bent forwardly and downwardly to parallel portion 50 of the hanger means, forming a planar latching finger 57 which normally extends across the open throat side of hook portion 51, to abut the latter adjacent the reentrantly bent outer end 52 thereof. It will thus be seen that the finger portion 57 operationally underlies thelifeline 24 and locks the same within the hook portion 51, as best shown in FIG. 3. The metal strap material of the latch means 32 is sufficiently resilient and spring-like to permit the same to be biased rearwardly toward the hanger member 31 (substantially to its dotted line position designated 32a in FIG. 3 of the drawings.) In this condition, the outer end of the latch finger portion 57 clears the throat of the hook portion 51 so that holding device 25 may be lifted upwardly to clear the lifeline 24. On the other hand, when the latch means 32 is biased forwardly, in its normal locking position, as shown in full lines .in FIG. 3, the finger portion 57 thereof securely locks the holding device onto the lifeline 24 preventing the latter from escaping the open.

hollow of the hook portion 51.

It is of particular importance to note that the open center of the hook portion 51 is sufficient to permit generally free swinging or pendulum movement of the holding device 25 about the lifeline 24. Thus as shown at FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, for example, the holding device 25 is movable about the lifeline (see dotted line positions of FIGS. 3 and 4) to effectively permit the basket portion to move as a pendulum in multi-axial directions about the lifeline. This feature in particular produces generally upright stability to a container or drinkcarrying vessel 26 stored in the holding device 25, preventing spillage or the loss of the liquid, even during the most violent movements of the ship or boat.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, due to the formation of the basket portion 30 with generally open sides defined by the several spaced wire arm members and the location of the latter on the inside of the rim member 35, storage of several baskets in a nested condition is readily permitted. This is best accomplished by internesting the basket portions of the several hangers so that the arm members of one basket lie alongside the arm members of the underdisposed basket. As shown,

the several hanger means thereof likewise lie inside'byside adjacency in such nested condition. This, internested relationship of three holding devices 25,25a and 25b having hanger means 31, 35a and 35b, respectively, is shown in FIG. 5. In practice, approximately such devices may be nested for storage purposes. j

Turning now to the details of the modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9 of the drawings, the portable holding device 25a therein shown comprises an open top basket portion 60 having hanger means 61 extending upwardly from one sidethereof,

and a latch means 62 for removably locking theholding device to the lifeline 24.

The basket portion 60 of device 25a preferably is a wire-formed construction having an open top and semiopen sides and bottom formed to accept a drinking vessel. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the basket portion includes a generally semicircular rim member 65 which defines the upper perimeter of the basket portion 60. Rim member 65 is fixed to the upper ends of four upright arm members 66,67,68,69, each having an outwardly turned finger portion 70 adapted to overlie the upper side of the rim member 65. The rim member 65, as noted, is open at one side so that the formed basket portion 60 readily accommodates .a drinking vessel having a handle, such as a cup. 7

The two arm members 68 and 69 are commonly interjoined for convenience of construction by an integral cross-connecting leg 71, of substantially V-s haped formation (see FIG. 8). It is to be noted that the arms 68, 69 and leg 71 are disposed symmetrically to one side and forwardly, of a central diameter of the rim member 65, and that the finger portions 70 ofsaid arms overlie and are rigidly affixed to opposite ends of the rim member 65 as by welding, brazing, soldering or the like.

The other two arm members 66 and 67 of the basket portion are also symmetrically located on opposite sides, but rearwardly of a central diameter of the rim member 65 and positioned in a generally upright .position, paralleling the arm members 68 and 69% best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. The upper end finger portions 70 of these arms likewise are rigidlyaffixed to the upper side of the rim member 65 to provide .a rigid basket formation.

Extending between the lower ends of arm members 66 and 67 are a pair of leg portions 73,7.3divergently related with respect to one another and merging into contacting engagement approximately at the center of the basket bottom near the apex end of the V-shaped crossconnecting leg 71, to which the same :are rigidly affixed, as by welding, brazing, soldering, etc. Leg portions 73,73 extend rearwardly from the V-shaped leg 71 in parallel, side-by-side relationship to form a twin base leg portion 74 which merges at its rearward reaches into the lower end of an upwardly extending twin arm member 75. It is preferred that the individual rod members comprising the twin base portion 74 .and

the twin arm member 75 be rigidly interjoined .11] contacting relationship as by welding, brazing or the like.

The twin arm member 75 extends vertically upwardly in parallel relationship to the other arm members 66-69, defining with the latter the open sides .of the basket portion 60. It is to be noted that the bottom of the basket 60 in this modified embodiment is flat, be-

cause the leg portions thereof 71,73,74 do not cross over each other, in contrast to the basket portion 30 illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5. This permits the device 25a to rest upright on its basket bottom, if desired.

With particular reference now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper end of twin arm member 75 is bent outwardly and rearwardly over the upper side of the open rim member at portion 76, which, like portion 46 in FIG. 3 is fixed to such rim member. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the twin arm member 75, immediately beyond rim member 65, extends upwardly to provide both the hanger means 61 and the latch means 62.

Hanger means 61 comprises an upwardly reaching linear portion 77 of one rod arm of the twin arm member and has the upper end thereof curvilinearly formed or bent forwardly in semicircular fashion to merge with a forwardly extending linear reach arm portion 78 extending forwardly over the center of basket portion 60.

The latch means 62 similarly comprises an upwardly extending p ortion 79 of the other rod or arm which forms the twin arm member 7 5; the same being aligned registeringly in front of portion 77 (see FIG. 6) and fixed thereto by a welded, brazed or similar connection, as at 80, beyond which it is separated from portion 77. The upper or outer end of rod portion 79, like portion 78 is bent in semicircular fashion to merge with a forwardly extending linear reach arm portion 81 extending forwardly over the center of basket portion 60 and spaced registeringly beneath arm portion 78.

Portions 77 and 79 are each fitted with a finger grip ,piece 82,83, respectively, comprising a length of flat metal strapping, each piece being rigidly attached to its associated portion 77 or 79 with piece 83 curving forwardly toward the center of the basket portion at its upper end to form a convenient hard grip for the latch means 62.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 9, arm portions 78 and 81 are interjoined by an S-shaped metal swivel hook means 84 which cooperates with latch means 62 and is formed with three integral parallel, spaced flat or planar sections 85,86,87; the center section 86 being outer ends of the hanger and latch means pass through holes formed in the ,parallel sections 85 and 86 of the hook means. It will be noted, however, that only the lower arm portion .81 passes beyond the center section 86 and that the outer end thereof normally abuts the inside face of hook section 87 to form a latching barrier or finger beneath the bend 88 of the hook means. By this expedient the hanger device 250 is locked onto the lifeline .(see FIG. 6).

The upper arm portion 78, whichpasses through, but not beyond the center section :86 of the hook means 84 is rotatably anchored to the latter by means of several upset deformations 90 located on opposite sides of the innermost hook section 85. This; prevents the hook means from sliding along arm 78 while permitting the same to rotate relative thereto; such rotating being resiliently limited, however, by the arm portion 81 of the latch means which passes through both sections 85 and 86 of the hook means.

The rod portion 79 of the latch means is sufficiently resilient and spring-like to permit the same to bias rearwardly toward the hanger rod portion 77 so that the outer end of the latching finger thereon will clear the open throat of the hook portion formed by outer section 87, bend portion 88, and central section 86. Thus the holding device 250 may be lowered onto or lifted upwardly to clear the lifeline 24 after retracting the latching finger. On the other hand, when the latch means 62 is biased forwardly in its normal position the latching portion 81 thereof securely locks the holding device onto the lifeline 24, preventing the latter from escaping the throat of the hook means 84.

In order to prevent the hook means from sliding along the lifeline too freely, a rubber sleeve 92 or the like preferably is provided about bend portion 88 of the hook means as best shown in FIG. 9.

As in the first embodiment described and shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, of the modified hanger device 25a is sufficiently loose fitting over the lifeline to permit generally free swinging, pendulum movement thereof about the lifeline 24, thus permitting the basket portion to move freely in multiaxial directions. However, due to the modified swivel hook means 84 and its limited rotational connection with arm portion 78 of the hanger means, the holding device 2511 is free to rotate about an axis passing centrally along the center of such upper arm portion 78 and generally aligned perpendicular to the lifeline in the mounted position for device 25a. This rotatable movement is approximately from the vertical position due to the flexing of the lower arm portion 81 of the latch means. Thus device 25a has improved freedom of movement in a vertical plane passing through the lifeline over that provided by the rigid hook embodiment of device 25 illustrated in F [68. 2 through 5. This feature desirably provides improved stability to a drink-carrying vessel stored in the modified holding device 25a.

1 CLAIM:

l. A portable drink holding device for shipboard use comprising: an open top basket portion receptive of a drinking vessel, hanger means extending upwardly of one side of said basket portion and having a single hook portion located at the outer end thereof and provided with an open side located substantially centrally over said basket portion and facing the latter, said hook portion being loosely receptive of a lifeline; and resilient latch means normally removably obstructing the open side of said hook portion whereby to positively couple the device in pendulum fashion to the lifeline for limited multi-axis gyratory movements thereabout.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said latch means is manually operable and comprises an elongated cantilever mounted body having spring-like resiliency, the outer end of which body is normally resiliently biased thereby across the open side of said hook portion beneath the lifeline.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises an elongated body of spring metal having a base portion rigidly affixed to said hanger means and a latching finger comprising the outer free end thereof, said body being normally spaced from said hanger means and said finger being operably movable away from the open throat of said hook portion by manually depressing said body toward said hanger means.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said basket portion has generally cylindrical open sides formed by a plurality of wire rod members comprising parallel circumferentially spaced arm members forming the open sides thereof, radially extending legs interjoining the lower ends of said arm members and arranged to intersect substantially centrally of the bottom of said basket portion, and a rim member rigidly affixed circumferentially about the upper ends of said arm members and defining the diameter of said basket portion.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said hanger means and certain of said arm members and legs of said basket portion are integrally formed.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said arm members are located at a common radial distance about the central axis of said basket portion and radially inwardly of said rim member in circumferentially spaced arrangement whereby a plurality of the caddy devices having basket portions of like diameter may be coaxially intemested for storage purposes with the said arm members of the nested devices lying in a common circumference.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said rim member defining the diameter of said basket portion is open on one side opposite a circumferential space between two of said arm members to permit the storage of a handle equipped vessel in said basket portion.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said hook portion comprises an S-shaped swivel hook means rotatably mounted over the free end of said hanger means for relative movement therebetween about an axis generally perpendicular to a lifeline on which the device is mounted, with said latch means interengaging said swivel hook means and operating to resiliently dampen said relative movement. 

1. A portable drink holding device for shipboard use comprising: an open top basket portion receptive of a drinking vessel, hanger means extending upwardly of one side of said basket portion and having a single hook portion located at the outer end thereof and provided with an open side located substantially centrally over said basket portion and facing the latter, said hook portion being loosely receptive of a lifeline; and resilient latch means normally removably obstructing the open side of said hook portion whereby to positively couple the device in pendulum fashion to the lifeline for limited multi-axis gyratory movements thereabout.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said latch means is manually operable and comprises an elongated cantilever mounted body having spring-like resiliency, the outer end of which body is normally resiliently biased thereby across the open side of said hook portion beneath the lifeline.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises an elongated body of spring metal having a base portion rigidly affixed to said hanger means and a latching finger comprising the outer free end thereof, said body being normally spaced from said hanger means and said finger being operably movable away from the open throat of said hook portion by manually depressing said body toward said hanger means.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said basket portion has generally cylindrical open sides formed by a plurality of wire rod members comprising parallel circumferentially spaced arm members forming the open sides thereof, radially extending legs interjoining the lower ends of said arm members and arranged to intersect substantially centrally of the bottom of said basket portion, and a rim member rigidly affixed circumferentially about the upper ends of said arm members and defining the diameter of said basket portion.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said hanger means and certain of said arm members and legs of said basket portion are integrally formed.
 6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said arm members are located at a common radial distance about the central axis of said basket portion and radially inwardly of said rim member in circumferentially spaced arrangement whereby a plurality of the caddy devices having basket portions of like diameter may be coaxially internested for storage purposes with the said arm members of the nested devices lying in a common circumference.
 7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said rim member defining the diameter of said basket portion is open on one side opposite a circumferential space between two of said arm members to permit the storage of a handle equipped vessel in said basket portion.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said hook portion comprises an S-shaped swivel hook means rotatably mounted over the free end of said hanger means for relative movement therebetween about an axis generally perpendicular to a lifeline on which the device is mounted, with said latch means interengaging said swivel hook means and operating to resiliently dampen said relative movement. 